Wrap-around garment



Filed June 5. 1961 A. N. SPIEGELBERG WRAP-AROUND GARMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ASGERD NETLAND SPIEGELBERG j, bid

ATTORNEY 11, 1964 A. N. SPIEGELBERG 3,143,740

WRAP-AROUND GARMENT Filed June 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. ASGERD NETLAND SPIEGELBERG United States Patent C) 3,143,749 WRAP-ARGUND GARMENT Asgerd N etland Spiegeiherg, as Sutton Piece 5., New York, N.Y.

Filed June 5, 1961, Ser. No. 114,919 4 Claims. (Cl. 2-105) This invention relates to stretchable garments for wrapping around the upper body of a person.

An object of the invention is to provide an elastically yieldable garment adaptable for stretching around the upper body in a variety of styles and which will stay in place regardless of any movements of the arms and body howsoever the garment is draped.

Another object is to provide a wrap-around garment which is characterized by the simplicity of its construction and economy of manufacture. For assembling the garment only the finishing of a border, a minimum of stitching and the attaching of ties are required.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the accompanying description of a garment embodying the principles of the present invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a view of a garment as it would appear laid fiat on a table.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the garment with its opening end partially opened to show the inside construction.

FIG. 3 is a pattern or development of a sleeve.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the garment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as it appears in one arrangement on a person.

FIG. 5 is a rear View of the garment arranged as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 displays another style which may be effected with the garment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 7 is a flattened View, similar to FIG. 1 of a onepiece sleeveless garment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the garment is made up of three separate pieces of stretchable material generally designated at 10, 11 and 12, and two ties 13 and 14. The piece 16 is in the form of a tube. In FIG. 1, the garment lies limp on a table so that the horizontal measurement of the flattened tube would be equal to approximately onehalf of its circumference.

The tube consists of stretchable material which is partially closed at one end 15 except for two symmetrically placed arrnholes 16 and 17 (FIG. 2) which are disposed diametrically opposite one another along superposed edge portions at that end of the tube. The other end of the tube is finished as a distensible edge.

The tube 10 may be made of any suitable material which is stretchable horizontally and vertically as viewed in FIG. 1, either because of the character of the threads or of the manner in which the material is made, or because of both the threads and the construction of the material. A satisfactory tubular piece has been made with wool jersey produced on a circular knitting machine. A wool jersey tube having a normal (i.e. unstretched) circumference of 54 inches and a length of about 16 inches will serve to make a garment suitable for Wear by persons having average-size figures. Other materials such as are made with stretchable yarns in the nature of Helenca and Ban-lon yarns may be used. The sleeves 11 and 12 are preferably made of a material similar to that of which the tube is made.

Each sleeve is originally formed in substantially the shape of the blank shown in FIG. 3 with side edges 18 and 19 and with intersecting end edges 29 and 21. The combined length of the edges 20 and 21 is commensurate with the length of the rim of each armhole 16, or 17, in the garment. The angle which each of the edges 20 Patented Aug. 11, 1964 ice and 21 make with the center line of the sleeve determines the inclination of each sleeve with respect to the axis of the tube as shown in FIG. 1. The material between the edges 18 and 29 and between the edges 19 and 21 provide gussets. The gussets contribute to the stability of the garment on a wearer.

The construction of the garment enables its assembly with three stitching operations for making all of the seams required. The materials are reversed for stitching so that the seams will be at the inside of the garment. The edges 29 and 21 of each sleeve are first stitched to the tube 10 at the respective arrnholes 16 and 17 and then the edges 18 and 19 of one sleeve are brought together and stitched from the cuff to form a longitudinal seam 22. The stitching is continued along the end 15 of the tube to form a seam 23 between the arrnholes and along the edges 18 and 19 of the other sleeve.

The open end of the tube is finished entirely around the tube in a manner not to impair the stretchability of the edge 24-, which ultimately becomes the border of the garment when it is draped about a person. A stretchable hem is suitable. End portions of the garment as it appears when worn, are held in place by the two ties 13 and 14 which are attached to the border at 25 and 26. When the ties are fastened around the waist of a wearer the material of the garment in the vicinity of each point of attachment of the ties is transfixed by the ties into angular corners at the ends of the garment.

The points of attachment of the ties divide the border 24 into two separate, unequal lengths which are respectively designated a lower segment 27 and an upper segment 28. The lower segment 27 is that part of the border which encircles or partially encircles the waistline of a wearer, depending upon the style in which the garment is worn, and the upper segment 28 provides the upper edge or neckline of the garment when the garment is on a wearer, as for example, in the style illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The upper edge of the garment there illustrated is that portion of the edge which extends from the attaching point 25 of the tie 13 upwardly and around the neck and downwardly to the attaching point 26 of the other tie 14. The garment has been stretched around the trunk and to the waistline, and pulled in front where it is held by the ties. The angular fronts can be overlapped in varying amounts, as desired, owing to the stretched condition of the material. The segment 27 provides the lower edge of the garment at the waistline.

It is preferable to provide a notch 2? in the edge of the longer segment 28 to make available a reserve length of border for extending the over-all stretched edge for some adaptations of style or arrangement which a wearer may wish to use. However, for use in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the notch could be dispensed with, as its presence does not interfere with the effectiveness of the arrangement displayed in those views.

For using the garment as a blouse (FIGS. 4 and 5), the border 24 of the tube is spread open (FIG. 2). As the border is distended and the material of the tube is stretched the interior of the tube is converted to an outside surface which will contact with and envelop the body of a wearer when the garment is worn.

The right arm is inserted into the sleeve 11. The left arm is inserted into the sleeve 12 with the inside of the tube spread against ones back and extended vertically upwardly and downwardly from the seam 23. The seam 23 connects between the sleeves across the back in the manner demonstrated in FIG. 5.

The lower edge 27 of the tube material is pulled down to the waistline and the upper edge 28 is adjusted across the back of the neck. The point 25 on the border of the garment where the tie 13 is attached is pulled downwardly to the waist and across the front, FIG. 4, and at the same a time the other front portion of the garment is pulled forwardly and downwardly until the border is angled at the point 26 at the waistline. The two ties are then fastened around the waist at 30. Any strings or cords of flexible material may be employed. The material of the blouse and of the sleeves is properly adjusted to present an artistic appearance. The garment is generally smooth at the back and the front is draped as desired. The garment can be worn in reverse, that is, with the back of the garment as seen in FIG. 5 in front.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 6, the seam 23. is at the front. For this arrangement the left arm is inserted in the sleeve 11 and the garment is then given a complete turn about the seam 23 before the right arm is inserted in the sleeve 12. This leaves a decorative twist at the front center with diagonals extending from each shoulder to the waist. The opposite ends of the garment extend-rearwardly around the sides to the points 25 and 26 at the back. A V-shaped edge at-the back is shown by broken lines 31. The ties are fastened around the waist. In any arrangement in which the ends of the garment are brought together at the locations of the ties along the border of the garment, other fastening means such as hooks could be used.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the garment is convertible for fashioning several other styles. The material is sufiiciently giveable to locate the apices of the angularly formed ends of the garment together, or at various distances apart, either to provide over-- laps or separated ends at the waistline. So also the neckline can be opened up from the neck or fitted snugly. The garment remains in place as arranged owing to its stretchable quality and the anchoring eflect provided by the fixed lower edge.

A sleeveless wrap-around garment consisting only of a. tubular knitted piece is shown in FIG. 7. The tube is closed, in part, at one end by a seam 33 running between armholes 34 and 35. The other end is left open, and ties are attached to divide the border 36 into separate segments as and for the purposes previously described. In this sleeveless variant the armholes are shorter and the seam 33 is longer than when the garment is designed for sleeves so that the seam will not exert as great a pull at the open armholes.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the specific description herein be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the particular showing herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A wrap-around garment comprising a tube of elastically yieldable material having an open end with an extensible edge and a partially closed opposite end with an edge opposite to said extensible edge, said open end adapted to be spread for placing the interior of the tube against the body of a wearer, said opposite edge having contiguous edge portions bound together along a central portion of the tube to partially close said opposite tube end between unbound portions of said opposite edge which border armholes at either ends of the bound contiguous edge portions, said opposite edge being normally substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tube when the tube is flattened and the material is unstretched, sleeves having inner margins stitched to the material of said tube along said armholes, the inner margin of each sleeve out along straight lines intersecting one another in an obtuse angle at the longitudinal centerline of a sleeve, each of said sleeves having tapering lengthwise edges at opposite sides of said longitudinal centerline of a sleeve, said lengthwise edges of a sleeve meeting the inner margin in an acute angle, stitching joining the lengthwise edges of each sleeve. said centerline and said lengthwise edges of each sleeve forming obtuse angles with said opposite edge of said tube, said lengthwise edges making an obtuse angle with said opposite edge which is greater than the obtuse angle between said centerline of a sleeve and said opposite edge of the tube when said tube and said sleeves are flattened in a plane with said opposite edge, said lengthwise edges and said centerlines of said sleeves lying in said plane, the material within the angular area of each of said sleeves adjoining said lengthwise edges and said inner margin of a sleeve providing an expansible gusset for the sleeve, and means attached to said extensible edge of the tube for holding said garment stable with said extensible edge extended about the body of a wearer.

2. A wrap-around garment comprising. a tube of elastically yieldable material having an open end with an extensible edge and a partially closed opposite end with an edge opposite to said extensible edge, said open end adapted to be spread for placing the interior of the tube against the body of a wearer, said opposite edge having contiguous edge portions bound together along a central portion of the tube to partially close said opposite tube end between unbound portions of said opposite edge which border armholes at either ends of the bound contiguous edge portions, said opposite edge being normally substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tube when the tube is flattened and the material is unstretched, sleeves having inner margins stitched to the material of said tube along said armholes, each of said sleeves having a lengthwise seam intersecting said bound edge portions at said armholes, said sleeves normally extending angularly outwardly from said opposite edge in directions inclined away from each other at the stitched inner margins of the respective sleeves when the tube and sleeves are collapsed flat in a plane, said extensible edge having a notch located in the portion of said extensible edge which is opposite from said bound edge portions at the other end of the tube, and a pair of strings attached to said extensible edge, said strings spaced apart at their points of attachment a distance less than one-half of the circumference of said tube, said attachment points being located, respectively, in portions of said extensible edge Opposite from said armholes, said attachment points dividing said extensible edge into two complementary segments of unequal lengths with said notch contained within the longer. of said segments, the shorter of said segments being adapted to be extended horizontally around the waist of a wearer to variable lengths and anchored at the waist by said strings with the material of said tube adjacent the points of attachment drawn into angular corners at the waist of a wearer and held in place when the strings are tied together.

3. A wrap-around garment comprising a tube of elastically yieldable material having an open end with an extensible edge and a partially .closed opposite end with an edge opposite to said extensible edge, said open end adapted to be spread for placing the interior of the tube against the body of a wearer, said extensible edge and said opposite edge disposed at substantially right angles to the axis of said tube when the tube is flattened and the material of the tube is unstretched, said opposite edge having contiguous edge portions bound together along a central portion of the tube to partially close said opposite tube end between unbound portions of said opposite edge which border armholes at either ends of the bound contiguous edge portions, said extensible edge having a notch located in the portion of said extensible edge which is opposite from said bound edge portions at the other end of the tube, said notch disposed to one side of the axial center of the tube as the tube lays flat, a pair of strings attached to said extensible edge, said strings spaced apart at their points of attachment to said extensible edge, said attachment points being located at substantially equal distances from said notch as measured along the circumference of said tube and dividing said extensible edge into two complementary segments of unequal lengths with said notch contained within the longer of said segments, the shorter of said segments being adapted to be extended horizontally around the waist of a wearer to variable lengths and anchored at the waist by said strings with the material of said tube adjacent the points of attachment drawn into angular corners at the waist of a wearer and held in place when the strings are tied together.

4. In a wrap-around garment comprising a tube of elastically stretchable material having a circumference greater than its axial length, said tube having one end closed except for armholes disposed diametrically opposite each other at said tube end, and the other end of the tube being open and having a finished extensible edge forming the border of the garment when extended on the body of the wearer, the improvement which comprises a pair of cooperating tie strings attached at spaced points on said extensible edge dividing it into two segmentsof unequal length, the shorter segment when the garment is extended on the body being adapted to at least partially encircle the waist of the wearer along at least a part of its 2 length and said tie string attachment points being adapted to form angular corners variably positionable at the waist line of the wearer when the tie strings are secured about the waist of the wearer, and the longer segment of said edge when the garment is on the body being adapted to extend upwardly from said angular corners and to form the major portion of the border of the garment above the waistline of the wearer whereby the garment under vertical tension when extended on the body of the wearer in a variety of stylings is secured against pulling up on the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,575,791 Brown Nov. 20, 1951 2,603,788 Page July 22, 1952 2,719,978 Rosenthal Oct. 11, 1955 2,721,327 Finkel Oct. 25, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 924,683 Germany Mar. 7, 1955 748,624 Great Britain May 9, 1956 

1. A WRAP-AROUND GARMENT COMPRISING A TUBE OF ELASTICALLY YIELDABLE MATERIAL HAVING AN OPEN END WITH AN EXTENSIBLE EDGE AND A PARTIALLY CLOSED OPPOSITE END WITH AN EDGE OPPOSITE TO SAID EXTENSIBLE EDGE, SAID OPEN END ADAPTED TO BE SPREAD FOR PLACING THE INTERIOR OF THE TUBE AGAINST THE BODY OF A WEARER, SAID OPPOSITE EDGE HAVING CONTIGUOUS EDGE PORTIONS BOUND TOGETHER ALONG A CENTRAL PORTION OF THE TUBE TO PARTIALLY CLOSE SAID OPPOSITE TUBE END BETWEEN UNBOUND PORTIONS OF SAID OPPOSITE EDGE WHICH BORDER ARMHOLES AT EITHER ENDS OF THE BOUND CONTINGUOUS EDGE PORTIONS, SAID OPPOSITE EDGE BEING NORMALLY SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF THE TUBE WHEN THE TUBE IS FLATTENED AND THE MATERIAL IS UNSTRETCHED, SLEEVES HAVING INNER MARGINS STITCHED TO THE MATERIAL OF SAID TUBE ALONG SAID ARMHOLES, THE INNER MARGIN OF EACH SLEEVE CUT ALONG STRAIGHT LINES INTERSECTING ONE ANOTHER IN AN OBTUSE ANGLE AT THE LONGITUDINAL CENTERLINE OF A SLEEVE, EACH OF SAID SLEEVES HAVING TAPERING LENGTHWISE EDGES AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID LONGITUDINAL CENTERLINE OF A SLEEVE, SAID LENGTHWISE EDGES OF A SLEEVE MEETING THE INNER MARGIN IN AN ACUTE ANGLE, STITCHING JOINING THE LENGTHWISE EDGES OF EACH SLEEVE, SAID CENTERLINE AND SAID LENGTHWISE EDGES OF EACH SLEEVE FORMING OBTUSE ANGLES WITH SAID OPPOSITE EDGE OF SAID TUBE, SAID LENGTHWISE EDGES MAKING AN OBTUSE ANGLE WITH SAID OPPOSITE EDGE WHICH IS GREATER THAN THE OBTUSE ANGLE BETWEEN SAID CENTERLINE OF A SLEEVE AND SAID OPPOSITE EDGE OF THE TUBE WHEN SAID TUBE AND SAID SLEEVES ARE FLATTENED IN A PLANE WITH SAID OPPOSITE EDGE, SAID LENGTHWISE EDGES AND SAID CENTERLINES OF SAID SLEEVES LYING IN SAID PLANE, THE MATERIAL WITHIN THE ANGULAR AREA OF EACH OF SAID SLEEVES ADJOINING SAID LENGTHWISE EDGES AND SAID INNER MARGIN OF A SLEEVE PROVIDING AN EXPANSIBLE GUSSET FOR THE SLEEVE, AND MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID EXTENSIBLE EDGE OF THE TUBE FOR HOLDING SAID GARMENT STABLE WITH SAID EXTENSIBLE EDGE EXTENDED ABOUT THE BODY OF A WEARER. 